Herath finished with figures of 6-68 off 33 overs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath never had a lot of success with the ball when playing against the West Indies in the past as he had taken eight wickets in five Tests. However, he nearly doubled his wicket tally against the men from the Caribbean on the third day of the first Test in Galle as he claimed six wickets in the first innings and one in the second to leave the West Indies reeling.
Darren Bravo was the only West Indian batsman to put up a fight as he scored 50 to try and keep Sri Lanka at bay for as long as possible.
Starting out the day on 66/2, the West Indies continued to lose wickets at regular intervals mainly due to Herath. But, Bravo managed to make 50 off 107 balls, which included eight boundaries and a six, while the next highest scorer was pace bowler Jerome Taylor, who accumulated 31 runs.
Bravo struck eight boundaries and a six during his knock of 50
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Bravo and Taylor were the only two batsmen to surpass the 30-run mark, which is why the West Indies were bowled out for 251 and made to follow-on as they still trailed by 233 runs.
Herath inflicted the most damage with six wickets, while Dhammika Prasad snapped up two and Nuwan Pradeep and Tharindu Kaushal chipped in with one.
Upon being asked to follow-on, the West Indies did not get off to a good start once again as Sri Lanka debutant Milinda Siriwardana took his maiden Test wicket when he clean bowled West Indian opener Shai Hope for six runs.
Hope’s opening partner Kraigg Brathwaite was the next to go after making an encouraging start to his innings. The 22-year-old was on 34 when he was given out lbw off the bowling of Herath.
Brathwaite decided to review the decision, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit leg stump. This led the third umpire to uphold the original decision.
With the West Indies struggling, Bravo and nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo ensured that they did not lose another wicket as they amassed an unbeaten seven-run partnership before stumps was called.
Bravo finished on 20 off 44 balls, which included two sixes, while Bishoo remained undefeated on six off 12 deliveries, which included one boundary.
Siriwardana and Herath claimed one wicket each.
The West Indies ended day three on 67/2 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:00 local time or 04:30 GMT.